What does “Thank You” really mean?

January 15, 2010

What does these two words mean? In our everyday life we ask someone a question and when they respond with an answer we reply back with a “Thank You”. It doesn’t even matter if you like the answer, the words “Thank you” come out automatically like you’re returning a tennis volley. In many circles its even considered rude to not say thank you.

What do we really mean when we say thank you? Are we telling the person “Hey, thanks for taking the effort to reply back with an answer” or is it because we feel we owe them something in return when they reply back? “He gave me an answer, now I have to say something… wait I know what to say! Thank you” Does anyone think when saying thank you or does it just come out of you automatically life a reflex action?

Recently I saw this movie “Three Idiots” and it raised an issue which I’ve been meaning to question for a really long time. In the movie (as in several points of my life) people have remarked “friends ko thank you nahi bolte” (you don’t need to say thank you to your friends)

My question is Why not?

Thank you is defined as a “conversational form of expressing gratitude”. Essentially it means that if you’re happy with the service rendered, you express your gratitude by using the words “Thank You”. It isn’t meant to be as a reply to an answer, or a way to finish of a conversation. It is a way to express your gratitude. So, when a friend helps me out (or vice-versa) why shouldn’t I express my gratitude? I’ll say thank you a million times if I’m happy. Its the human way of sharing an emotion — happiness. The thank you isn’t for you, its for me… I’ll give it whether you want it or not. I would also expect the same in return. If I help you out with something and you feel grateful, say thank you, otherwise it seems to me that you don’t care.

I think this term has been severely watered down to a point where its real meaning has been lost. Next time someone helps me out, I’ll say thank you even if its friend, a family member or a random stranger. You should do that too, and hopefully they will be happy that it comes from the heart.

  • Curious

    I used to date a guy who thank me for joining him after every date. It got annoying because I wasn't doing him a favor, but dated him in the pleasure of doing so. Eventually we ended up breaking. He seemed to have lost intereste in me with time.
    Now I'm interested in a friend and we've been spending allot of time together. Normally it's very casual and we often go to the theatre since it's cheap on a Tuesday night. I notice that lately he's been acting a bit indifferent in my company and for the first time ever he thanked me for the simplest thing like joining him to watch a movie which we often did to begin with. When he thanked me i felt like saying “i didn't realize that in watching a movie with you tonight i was actually doing you a favor”. Instead, I said “thanks for having me”. We're not strangers or acquaintances who see each other once every few months or years, unless he, now, wants to be. I think this thank you business is silly, especially with this situation because he made me feel like I helped him kill, waste, do something with his free, and boring time. It's not like this was the first time I've gone out with him, so his “thank you” really annoyed me, especially because we've been seeing each other a few times and week and has never thanked me in the past for “comming out”. How would you interpret my experience?
    Anyway, we're friends and I thought he was interested in me so I developed an interest in him, but like I said he's been acting a bit indifferent, yet has been calling me regardless and the thank you is like the icing on the cake. I would call it “KILLING SOMONE WITH KINDNESS”.

  • David

    To me, “thank you” is a term used to express gratitude. There is a problem though. Like the words “I love you” it is over used far to often. As well, like money, the more there is of it the less valuable and instance of it is. So I like to break it up. If someone was to give me a Lolli pop I would probably say thanks in return; not “thank you.” I use the term “thanks” to represent curtsy for a deed. In most cases I am not really thankful for a Lolli pop, unless I was in need of one. Sure it was nice but I would have gladly gone along with my day without ever meeting you or receiving the Lolli pop that you gave to me.

    If I was genuinely thankful, I would be sure to express it and you would definitely notice it. So really I like to keep from say the words “thank you,” unless I’m actually thankful. That way if I was to say it, it would be unique and have great meaning. Of course that wouldn’t do any good if you were a stranger, and I told you “thank you” you would just perceive it as “just another thank you” and be on with your day; I would know what it means though.

    • http://rushi.vishavadia.com Rushi Vishavadia

      That’s a useful perspective, thank you!

  • david lin

    you didnt say what thankful mean?

    david lin
    a student in ycis year 4a

  • Gayfaghomo

    i fist my dad when hes sleeping, i think that he just pretends to be asleep though…

  • The Nerd

    hi everyone its great to be here

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